John Cena Turns Heel at Elimination Chamber 2025 Wearing the APL TechLoom Pro

Hustle. Loyalty. Respect. All of that seems to be thrown out the window for John Cena, the perennial baby face of the WWE, as he shocked the entire WWE Universe and the internet by turning heel at the wrestling promotion’s Elimination Chamber PLE on Saturday night. For the uninitiated, the “heel” in professional wrestling is a kayfabe term meant to describe a wrestler intended to be viewed by the crowd as a “bad guy.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, a “babyface” is a wrestler the crowd is meant to look at as the “good guy.”

In Cena’s 20-plus-years in the WWE, he has (virtually) always been a babyface, but that changed when he “sold his soul” to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Final Boss character by attacking Cody Rhodes in front of Travis Scott and the nearly 40,000 in attendance at the Rogers Centre. During his Elimination Chamber performance and this heel turn, Cena decided to rock a pair of APL TechLoom Pro sneakers.

Cena isn’t necessarily known for his love of sneakers, though he has been spotted in various silhouettes over his career. While his early career, especially as the “Doctor Of Thuganomics,” saw the legendary wrestler and actor lace up Reebok Pumps, he has recently become fond of the APL TechLoom Pro silhouette. The $160 silhouette features a one-piece woven upper and a Propelium midsole for a cushioned and breathable experience underfoot.

Looking back over the last few years, Cena has taken the ring and other public appearances for WWE wearing APL sneakers, including his last Royal Rumble appearance in February when he sported a black/white colorway of the APL TechLoom Pro. As for what Cena, Triple H, and the WWE have planned for John’s final year as a professional wrestler, we’ll all have to wait and see the story of heel Cena unfold over the coming months. If you’re interested in rocking the same shoes as Cena, we’ve added a link to purchase the APL TechLoom Pro in the same White Gum colorway he wore at Elimination Chamber 2025.

Download the Sole Retriever mobile app for more updates on the latest releases, raffles, and news in the sneaker and streetwear world.

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com